Utility chest



July 3 L. M. PIKER UTILITY EST Filed June 25, 37

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E INV OR 11 Lows M. PI

ATTORNEK Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATE-s PATENT forrics Application June 25, 1937, Serial No. 150,346"

7 Claims. (omens- 16) .This invention. relates to improvements in chests or boxes, such as is used for carrying about tools, fishing tackle, makeup and similar materials. a

One of the objectsof thisinvention is to pro vide a box of this type, having hingedly connecteed to the lid thereof a tray, and in which the tray and lid co-operate with one another to limit the opening of, the lid and retain same in an open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a utility box or chest of the type above indicated, in which the lid, when open, holds the tray therein'in a horizontal position, and in which the lid is retained in a substantially upright position, 7

A further object of this invention is to soconstruct the parts as to result in a box in which the parts are freely movable relative to one another, while accomplishing the above objects.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that anymodifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit or the invention. a

In the drawing:

Fig. 1. is a perspective view of a utility chest or box embodying the improvements of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarmsectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional View, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. a

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view, through the pivot connection of the arm with the tray, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end, elevational View of the utility chest of Fig. 1, showing. the lid closed, and with the trayin dotted position within the chest.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hinge pin and bumper utilized in this construction, and forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of Fig. .1, which illustrates a modification of the invention; and,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 8-8 oi Fig. 7. a f

Throughout the severalviews of the drawing, similar reference characters areemployed to. denote the same or similar parts.

The utility chest or box of this invention co'm= prises a box-like member 10, having a bottom H, front l2, back I3 and ends l4 and [5. The front,

back and ends are suitably ribbed and embossed for strength and ornamentation, as is frequently done to articles of this nature, and in which the upper rib or bead I6 is utilized as a lip for the edge of the lid or cover H. The portion [8, of the front, back and ends above the bead or rib l6 therein, are inwardly offset with respect to the rest of these parts.

The-111d or cover ll, comprises a body or top portion i9, from which depends a front flange 2G, a rear flange 2! and end flanges 22 and 23. These flanges are adapted to be in the plane of the box :front, back andsides, below the head or rib [6, when the said cover ll is closed, and are adapted to overlie the portion l3, as above described. The lower, edge of the back flange 2! is turned to form an eye for a hinge pin 34, which hinge pin has its ends disposed in a reversely formed bead 35 in the back l3 of the box. This head 35 is in line with the bead l6 and is, in

fact, a continuation of this bead. From this, it will now be seen that the cover i! is hingedly connected with the box It, for movement relative thereto. it

Disposed longitudinally of the-box h] and cover 2 ll, and interiorly thereof, is a tray 2d, of a width somewhat less than thewidth of the box, so as to provide the. space 25 between said tray and the front, l2 of the box, when the cover is open, .whereby access may be had to the interior of the box. This tray 24, comprises a bottom 28, a front 21, back 28 and ends 29 and 3E]. The upper endsv of the tray front, back and ends are rolled to provide a bead 3 I, and which bead, on the tray front 2'! and ends 29 and til, overlies the upper cover flanges. The opposite ends of the bead of i the tray back 28 are utilized for securing therein nected to a pair of arms 36 and 3'! of which arm" 31 is most clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A As is shown, the arm 37 comprises a body por- 11. tibn38,having its upper. en'd bent normal thereto, as'at 39,'to enter a socket 40, formedin the edge of the box front l2; and ends 14 and l5, while remaining within the confines of the lid or bottom 26 of the tray, near the front wall or flange 21 thereof. The lower end of the body portion 38 of the arm 31 is likewise bent normal thereto, as at M, which passes through an aperture :32 in the box body side. The free end of the arm portionv M is peaned over to form a head 23, which prevents the pin from being inwardly withdrawn from the aperture 142. From the .foregoing, it will now be appreciatecl'that movement of said cover l1 carries with it the tray 24, which is at all times maintained in a horizontal position during the movement of said cover.

In order to limit the opening of the cover l-'5, there is provided, in connection Withthe tray 24, a bumper, which engages theinnerforj 'uhder' surface of the cover top 99. This mmeaassncw in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, is formed integral with the hinge pins 3| and 32, andpneof-which hinge 1 pins, 3! for example, is illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 and to which reference is now to be had.

This combined hinge pin and-bumper, comprises a straight portion- 54, which forms the pin 35, and from Whicha'portion db-projects in a downwardly and outwardlypangular direction. At the end of 'the portion 45, the pin is bent at right angles to provide the portion 35." The material forming the connection or bend at 31 between the pin portions and lficonstitute the contact bumper portion, and engages the inner surface of the cover top 19, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. It should be noted at thistime that the pin portion-d? could be cut off and the end of the pin portion 35 left thereby, and positioned at ll could be utilized as the contact bumper. With this construction, the movement of the lid or cover 2-! in an opening direction could be limited by positioning the lid vertically with respect to the box, or positioning said lid at a point slightly ahead of or behind the vertical position, and with the tray 24 at all times ina horizontal position.

' With this construction, the tray is positioned to have its weight, plus the weight of the content thereof, forwardly of the hinge pin 31, thereby preventing a rearward tilting of the box IE), when the cover it is open, since thecenter of gravity will then be forwardly of the hinge pin 34.

In Figs. '7 and 8, a slight modification is illustrated in a bumper construction, which will accomplish the same result as the structure above described. In this construction, one or more -tongues or tabs 48 are struck from the rear wall a or flange of the tray, which are adapted to have their inner ends 69 engage the inner surface of the cover or lid, and accomplish the positioning of the said cover or lid in the same manner as the contact bumper above described accomplished that result.

From the foregoing, it will now be-appreciated that there has been provided a chest or box, having hingedly connected thereto a tray, which cooperates with the cover or lid of the chest for positioning the cover and, at the same time, maintain the parts in such a position that the box is not tilted when the cover is open.

What is claimed is: 1. In a chestof the class described, the combination of a box having a cover hingedly con- -nected thereto, a tray pivotly connected to said 70 cover, and means associated with and projecting rearwardly from said tray for engaging the cover portion of the, cover to limit the opening of said "cover, to position same with respect to the box "comprising a bumper projecting rearwardly from the tray.

2. In a chest of the class described, the c0mbination of a box having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a tray pivotly connected to said cover, means associated with and projecting rearwardly from said tray for engaging the cover portion of the cover to limit the opening of said cover, to position same with respect to the box comprising a bumper projecting rearwardly from the tray, and means for maintaining the tray in a horizontal position during the movement thereof with the cover.

3. In a chest of the class described, the combination of a box having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a tray pivotly connected to said cover, means associated with and projecting rearwardly from said tray for engaging the cover porthecover and having hinge pins projecting from the ends thereof through apertures in the cover flange whereby movement of the cover from a closed to an open position carries with it the tray, means connecting the tray with the box for maintaining the tray in a horizontal position during themovement thereof, and means associated with said tray for engaging the box cover to limit its movement in an opening direction and thereby position said box cover relative to the box, comprising a bumper projecting rearwardly from the tray.

5. In a chest of the class described, the com- I bination with'a box, of a cover having depending flanges pivotlyconnected to the box, a tray within the cover and having hinge pins projecting from the ends thereof through apertures in the cover flange whereby movement of the cover-from a closed to an open position carries with it the tray, means connecting the tray with the box for maintaining the tray in a horizontal position during the movement thereof, and means associated with said tray for engaging the' box cover to limit its movement in an openingdirection and thereby position said box cover relative to-the box, comprising a bumper integral with the tray hinge pins and so arranged to engage the cover and limit its movement in an opening direction and substantially vertically position the cover with respect to the box.

6. In a chest of the class described, the combination with a box, of a cover having depending flanges pivotly'con'nected to the box, a tray within the cover and having hinge pins projecting from the ends thereof through apertures in the cover flange whereby movement of the cover, from a closedto an open position, carries with it the tray, means connecting the tray with the box for maintaining the tray in a horizontal position during the movement thereof, and means associated with said tray for engaging the box cover to limit its movement in an opening direction and thereby position said box cover relative to the box, comprising lugs struck from, and projecting rearwardly of, the tray for engagin the cover. I

7. In a chest of ,the class described, the combination with a box, of a cover having depending its connection providing means for maintaining the tray in a horizontal position during the movement of the cover, and means associated with said tray for engaging the cover portion of the box lid to limit the movement in an open direction and thereby position said box cover relative to the box comprising a bumper projecting rearv wardly from the tray.

LOUIS M. PIKER. v 

